Metering is ON

Big crowd gets first look at new field

Story Image Gurnee, IL 9/2/11 Warren Blue Devils football team hosted New Trier on their brand new artificial turf Friday night. A packed house waits for the start of the first home game.
| Rob Dicker~Sun-Times Media
Story Image

Updated: September 3, 2011 12:51AM



New Trier’s defense forced five turnovers, and two of them led directly to touchdowns as the visiting Trevians beat Warren 21-7 on Friday night in Gurnee in a non-conference prep football game.

New Trier is 1-1 and plays Highland Park next week. Warren is 0-2 and travels next to Lake Zurich.

The Trevians were all over Warren backup quarterback Adam Reuss.

The Devils’ starting QB last week against Maine South, Bobby Boesch, was sidelined with an injury, forcing Reuss into action.

The junior struggled, especially in the first half which ended with New Trier ahead 14-0.

He lost two fumbles and threw an interception in the first 24 minutes, which ended with New Trier ahead 14-0.

The Trevians’ first points came on a two-yard run by Michael Thomas with 7:02 left in the second quarter. It capped an 83-yard drive.

Later in the period, Chris Hall picked off a Reuss pass and raced 36 yards to the house for the 14-point halftime margin.

In the third quarter, New Trier added to its lead as Daniel Olaniyan tallied on a one-yard plunge one after Reuss put the ball on the gournd at his one 1-yard line and Nick Hedde recovered.

Warren finally got on the board on the next possession on a 1-yard run by Tyler Keith. The key play in the drive was a 40-yard pass from Reuss to Mitch Munda.

But after that, New Trier’s defense completely shut down Warren’s offense, ruining the evening for the huge crowd on hand to get its first look the the Blue Devils’ new artificial-turf field.

“We did a lot of things right tonight,” said New Trier coach Dan Starkey. “The defense played excellent. Chris Hall’s interception was huge. It gave us the spark we needed.”

The offensive leader for New Trier was quarterback Jack Nykaza. He was 10 of 19 for 142 yards. He also rushed for 32 yards.

Olaniyan was the leading ground-gainer with 15 carries for 68 yards.

“Going out on the road, we kept our composured and executed,” Starkey said.

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